The iPod photo camera connector

So we heard last week about the iPod photo's forthcoming camera connector, and now it looks like we get a sneak peek at the little bugger. Okay, so as expected it's not much but an iPod dock connector on one end and a USB port on the other. So if the iPod really does have USB-On-The-Go locked away in there, we're all sure to know first thing come late March when they release it to countless eager hackers willing to pony up that $30 pricetag.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

"So if the iPod really does have USB-On-The-Go locked away in there, we�re all sure to know first thing come late March when they release it to countless eager hackers willing to pony up that $30 pricetag."

I don't think this is a big secret. Everybody knows the dock connector is just a combo USB/Firewire port. The problem is you need an adapter, and only Apple makes dock port connectors. So it's not like you can just go out and buy a $2 cable to do it.

Plus, the iPod does not generally work with USB 1.1. So this adapter may be doing something to fool the iPod into thinking it's got a USB 2.0 connection when connected with an average camera.

Otherwise, you probably *could* just get some sort of female USB to male mini-USB cable and use that instead of the adapter - but how common is something like that?

I'm just curious if these adapters will work with all iPods or just iPod photos. I don't see why you couldn't just transfer photos to the regular iPod on the go and just use it as a portable hard drive (you can use it that way on a PC; it's a supported and documented feature of the iPod), without being able to display them. I don't really have a need to view photos on the go on a 1.8" screen (I've got one of those on my camera as it is), but I might see a use in having a GB or more of extra storage at hand that I could offload my memory card to.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Now if this can build iPod Photo slide shows from the thumbnails embedded in raw files during import I'll be all over this.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

At $30, that's a huge rip-off for something that should be included.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

what does it have to do with hackers?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

The only question is if it will work with older iPods, I'm guessing it won't, as it doesn't seem that the older iPods can act as a USB host. (If you look at the Belkin reader, that box is the USB host).

#1, I don't think you get the text you quoted. The question was if there was a dongle (similar to the Belkin), or just a simple cable (which would require the iPod to be a USB host ~ USB-on-the-go.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Yes it should have come with the iPod but shouldn't printers come with a cable as well?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

i don't like the idea of having to carry around a cable to connect the camera. Plus aren't the cameras slow at transfereing and that's why people by card readers? i heard the connector was supposed to be a really FAST transfer.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

i don't like the idea of having to carry around a cable to connect the camera. Plus aren't the cameras slow at transfereing and that's why people by card readers? i heard the connector was supposed to be a really FAST transfer.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

if the software is built-in, why would you not just get the $23 sendstation combo?

might need a cable adaptor but i bet people won't be too happy that apple is "releasing" a product that already exists.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

that is so badass. i have heard rumor of the ipod linux teams attempting to code software and with homemade cables to do pod2pod transfer . . . . so so rad this would be. . . . if only they could get their linux to work stable on a 4g pod. heres hopeing!

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

i still think the functionality should have been included in the iPod photos from the beginning. Even if the adapter was only $5, the iPod looks a lot better without that ugly growth coming out of it's backside.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Has anybody tried to import pics using the Sendstation Pocket Dock Combo?
http://www.sendstation.com/us/products/pd_combo.html

It's $23 and has connections for both usb and firewire.

If the camera connector is just a usb to ipod dock connector, it might work.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Even if the adapter was only $5, the iPod looks a lot better without that ugly growth coming out of it's backside
---
Uhhh you're only going to be uploading pics about once or twice a week.. so who cares what it 'looks like'.. it's not like you're walking around with a camera and an ipod and this bloody cable

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

If you think this adapter is a good deal, you probably bought the iPod Socks too.

This should have been included in the iPhoto, and Apple is trying to patch up a huge hole in this product. Perhaps its (iPod Photos) lackluster sales (relative to other models) is that you don't get much bang for the buck.

Hopefully, they'll put this standard with all new iPod Photos. Or someone will sell a cheaper version of it.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

this is a great lil device.

now i won't have to bring my Powerbook on vacations anymore.... just sync my Camera with the iPod at the end of the day and i'm set.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

To #1 - the iPod generally *does* work with USB1.1; at least my 3G does.

They really should have built this in to the iPod *Photo*. It's not called the iPod Photo-but-you'll-need-to-spend-more-to-connect-it-to-your-digital-camera.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Does anyone know if this thing willl work with the last generation iPod?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Like one of the previous commenters said about using the PocketDock. Couldn't you simply just use the PocketDock Combo, get a USB B-male to A-female adapter...plug that into the pocket dock and then just use your digital camera's usb cable to connect it to that (USB A-male to Mini-B)?

Would that work? and Would the iPod recognize it and allow you to transfer photos to it?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Can I have an iPod Photo with a CF slot, please? Seriously, I'd buy one tomorrow. I'd like to have a portable photo storage/review/transfer unit with a user interface that doesn't feel like an afterthought.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Any rumors if it will also work on a mini?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Any hackers know if it is possible to connect a PSP to this connector...I think ipod and psp would best be used together, ipod as a strage and music device, and psp as the game/video wifi broswer etc. Unless psp added a microdrive or ipod a better processor for video...would be cool to have a libraray of 50 mpeg4 movies and 5000 songs on the go with games. I guess the trouble would be with the file format sony and ipod use...Thanks

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

[quote]18. Posted Feb 28, 2005, 1:11 PM ET by Shawn
Does anyone know if this thing willl work with the last generation iPod?[/quote]
and.... anyone knows yet?